Song Plays The Game

Stories have been gathering over the last fortnight as to Barcelona's interest in Alex Song. The Spanish press are reporting that a £15m bid was lodged this morning. The regularity of the rumours suggests Song's advisors are hardly discouraging the talk and Song himself is playing the 'covering my bases' game with quotes that have emerged this lunchtime.

'I am not going to lie if I said there is no interest but I am at Arsenal and I am happy at Arsenal,' he told Sky Sports.

'Barcelona are the best team in the world, and speculation will always continue until the window closes.'

Song could be pushing for new terms, but his deal runs until 2015, so Arsenal are under no pressure to sell. If they do so, you have to think it'll be the club's decision.

Comments

0

As I've said on other articles, I'm wouldn't be bothered much at all as long as a replacement was brought in before he was sold. He's a good player but getting too big for his boots. It's got Hleb written all over this one. If he goes in two years time he'll be signing for some German/French midtable side saying how he regrets leaving Arsenal. Though thinking about it he looks like that much of a dope he probably wouldn't care.

Thought the same thing Rocky. HOWEVER! Arsenal cannot sell this summer. There's no obvious replacement and any player signed would need a season to bed anyway. Song WILL flop at Barca though. They will not stand his mistakes the way we do. And he makes many, many individual mistakes.

As with Rocky I'm not too bothered if he's sold as long as a more defensively minded player replaces him. Saying that I'd rather the team not be disrupted by hyacinth too many new players and I feel this is about getting a better deal.

From my little source, after playing so many matches last season and the season before, he is expected to get a raise (Just Like Vermaelen, Koscielny), but arsenal have asked for more time as they plan to deal with Theo, RVP before Song. His advisors are not ready for such wait time. The advisors believe waiting might be to their disadvantage.

I do think Song does deserve a raise, if that is what this is about; the club will need to address his deal. I feel any replacement (unless those already playing EPL football) would need time to bed in. If we were to bring in someone in this window to give him competition, that would be good and will make the transition smoother by the next season.

There were reports that Wenger was irritated by this. I wouldn't mind if Song went, get a replacement this season. There's no point in expecting better from players anyway. That would mean taking a big risk this season, bcoz there will too many newcomers in the 1st team. So, I'm not sure about this one.

We'll be better off if he stays. His occasional flaw of not sufficiently covering the defence is something that can be worked out on the training ground. But he has demonstrated skills over the last couple of seasons that can not be easily coached, and that your average defensive midfielder is not capable of.
I feel he has also been scapegoated to a certain degree for the mistakes our defence makes. In particular, Mert, Verm and Scz have been found wanting at times last season, yet Song seems to take a larger proportion of the blame.